Moms' Night Out, Thursday, April 21 at 7 p.m. at the Library Community Room. Join host Kate Garland to discover ways to have simple spa time at home using therapeutic grade essential oils. Natural skin care tips, safe and gentle detox baths, foot massages for pain relief, improve memory and concentration, tips for better sleep and more energy, and more. Free, and you don't have to be a mom. Class size is limited. Please register at: http://tinyurl.com/z4cgz54 . For more information call 256-8274.
- Brad Haugaard
Monrovia Police Officers to be Honored
Monrovia Police Officer David Andrew, Officer Brian Cofield, Officer John Donchig, School Resource Officer James Ruano, and Police Services Representative Evelyn Ruedas will be honored at the Police Department's Annual Awards Ceremony in the Monrovia City Council Chambers on Thursday, March 24 at 5 p.m. A reception will follow immediately after the event in the Police Department Community Policing Room, and everyone is welcome. Source: City Manager Oliver Chi's weekly report: http://goo.gl/qVi1Qy
- Brad Haugaard
- Brad Haugaard
Construction About to Start on New Monrovia Apartment Building
Architect's rendering of new apartment building.
Construction should begin on an apartment project at the southeast corner of Fifth and Huntington "within the next month or so," City Manager Oliver Chi wrote in his latest weekly report ( http://goo.gl/qVi1Qy ). It will replace the former self-storage facility with a "four-story, 154-unit apartment complex, along with a small 1,340 square foot commercial space at the north corner of the building."
- Brad Haugaard
Monrovia Congresswoman Proposes Federal Overlay Over Part of City
Congresswoman Judy Chu, who represents a sliver across the top of Monrovia, has proposed an expansion of the San Gabriel Mountains National Monument to include an even larger chunk of Monrovia. The map above shows the border of Monrovia in black. The green part is already part of the national monument, red is the proposed expansion area for the monument, and blue would be for a proposed San Gabriel Mountains National Recreation Area. In his weekly report ( http://goo.gl/qVi1Qy ), City Manager Oliver Chi said the city has informed Congresswoman Grace Napolitano (who represents most of Monrovia and who co-sponsored the bill with Chu) that the city wants to be excluded from any national recreation area. He adds that "Napolitano’s staff reached out to the City to let us know that the NRA Bill is still sitting in committee and that there does not seem to be any interest by the Natural Resources Subcommittee on Federal Lands – or by the House of Representatives for that matter – to consider the NRA Bill in 2016." Note: Chi politely refrains from mentioning that Chu introduced this measure, but she did: https://goo.gl/tNl5bC
- Brad Haugaard
Meet Author Attica Locke at Monrovia Library
- Brad Haugaard
Lillian Sass Named Woman of the Year
Lillian Sass, coordinator of the Citrus College Foster/Kinship Education and Resources Program (FKCERP), has been named a Woman of the Year for the 25th Senate District by Senator Carol Liu.
Sass was selected because of her commitment to supporting foster youth and her dedication to educating foster and adoptive families. Citrus College serves the Monrovia area. Source: Citrus press release
- Brad Haugaard
Postage Stamp Train Tickets
Using the train regularly now, I think I've figured out the Metro ticketing system.
If you stand at the machine trying to figure out what it costs to get to Union Station or Culver City, or whatever, you will pull your hair out with frustration, but if you think of it as a postage stamp it becomes a lot clearer.
If you send a letter across the street or to New Hampshire it costs the same. In the same way, for $1.75 you can get to wherever the trains go (what a deal!), as long as you can get there in a couple hours. At least I think that's how it works. Metro could be clearer with its messaging but it's not bad once you change how you look at it.
UPDATE: Since I'm on the subject of trains, I just had the worst experience this morning. I waited 20 minutes (during rush hour) for a train in Monrovia and then it was shoulder to shoulder all the way to Pasadena. Sardine City. 52 minutes door to door. I started taking the train because it was almost as fast and much more pleasant. Today it was much slower and much more unpleasant than driving. A few more experiences such as I had this morning and I'll be back in my car.
UPDATE: Since I'm on the subject of trains, I just had the worst experience this morning. I waited 20 minutes (during rush hour) for a train in Monrovia and then it was shoulder to shoulder all the way to Pasadena. Sardine City. 52 minutes door to door. I started taking the train because it was almost as fast and much more pleasant. Today it was much slower and much more unpleasant than driving. A few more experiences such as I had this morning and I'll be back in my car.
- Brad Haugaard
Monrovia School Board Agenda
Here's the agenda for the March 23 Board of Education meeting: here. Doesn't look like anything too earthshaking.
- Brad Haugaard
- Brad Haugaard
Monrovia Police: Gang Graffiti At Clifton; Burglaries From Cars; Drunk; Drunk and Driving; Five Arrested in Drug Bust; $100,000 Bail for Driving Without License
[Monrovia Police activities from the Police Department's Neighborhood Watch Report for March 17-20. - Brad Haugaard]
Following are the weekend’s highlighted issues and events.
Vehicle Burglary
March 17 at 4:33 p.m., the victim of a vehicle burglary came to the police department lobby to file a report. The victim parked her vehicle in a parking lot in the 800 block of West Colorado. When she returned, her purse was missing from inside the vehicle. The victim believes she locked the vehicle. There were no signs of forced entry. The investigation is continuing.
Vehicle Burglary
March 17 at 5:18 p.m., a vehicle burglary was reported in the 500 block of S. Shamrock. The front passenger-side window was smashed and a handbag, tablet and other miscellaneous items were taken from inside the vehicle. The investigation is continuing.
Public Intoxication – Suspect Arrested
March 18 at 12:17 a.m., a resident in the 300 block of West Lemon called police to report a male subject on his lawn. Officers arrived and located a male subject wandering around in the area that matched the description. The subject was intoxicated and did not know where he was. The officers determined the subject was too intoxicated to care for himself. He was arrested and held for sobering.
Public Intoxication – Suspect Arrested
March 18 at 12:50 a.m., an officer on patrol saw a male subject stumbling down the street. He stopped the subject to check on his welfare and determined he was extremely intoxicated and unable to care for himself. The subject was arrested and held for sobering.
Driving Under the Influence – Suspect Arrested
March 18 at 1:50 a.m., an officer stopped a vehicle for a vehicle code violation, and while speaking with the driver, the officer could smell alcohol. After field sobriety tests were performed, it was determined the subject was intoxicated. The driver was arrested for driving under the influence.
Possession of Drug Paraphernalia – Suspect Arrested
March 18 at 4:41 p.m., officers responded to a residence in the 200 block of Norumbega regarding the report of drug activity at the location. The resident gave the officers consent to search the location and officers found drug paraphernalia. A female subject admitted the items were hers and she was arrested for possession of drug paraphernalia.
Receiving Stolen Property – Suspect Arrested
March 19 at 12:56 a.m., officers detained a subject walking through a park in the 700 block of E. Lemon after it was closed. The subject was walking with a bike that had an address and a phone number on it. The officers phoned and spoke to the owner of the bike, who reported his bike had been stolen. The subject was arrested for receiving stolen property and taken into custody.
Possession of Drug Paraphernalia/Weapons Offenses – Five Suspects Arrested
March 19 at 10:48 a.m., officers were dispatched to a hotel in the 700 block of W. Huntington regarding foot traffic in and out of one of the rooms. Hotel employees suspected possible prostitution. The subjects had also set off the fire alarm in the room earlier in the week and marijuana was smelled coming from the room. When officers arrived, they contacted two males and one female in the room. The female and one of the male subjects are known gang members. The other male is a known drug user and burglar from prior police contacts in Monrovia. The subject who rented the room was not present. Drug paraphernalia and an empty Beretta handgun case were located in the room. The three subjects in the room were arrested for possession of drug paraphernalia.
As one of the officers was leaving the hotel, he saw another known local drug user pumping gas into a vehicle at a gas station across the street. There was a male and female seated in the vehicle. A computer check of the license plate revealed the vehicle was registered to the subject who rented the room at the hotel. Officers detained all three subjects. A search of the vehicle revealed a loaded Beretta handgun, a large amount of methamphetamine, heroin and cash. A total of 5 suspects were arrested for drug and weapon related charges in this incident.
Public Intoxication – Suspect Arrested
March 19 at 7:15 p.m., officers responded to a welfare check of a female subject in the area of Myrtle and Chestnut. Officers located the female subject matching the reported description and determined she had been drinking and was not capable of taking care of herself. She was arrested for public intoxication and held for sobering.
Vandalism
March 20 at 10:25 a.m., the vice principal at the high school in the 800 block of Colorado called police to report vandalism of school property. Someone had spray painted gang related graffiti on several buildings. The vandalism occurred sometime over the weekend. The investigation is continuing.
Warrant – Suspect Arrested
March 20 at 5:12 p.m., an officer saw a male subject he recognized walking down the sidewalk in the 600 block of S. Mountain. The officer knew the subject had a warrant for his arrest. A computer check confirmed the warrant for his arrest with a bail set at $100,000 for driving without a license. The subject was arrested for the warrant.
Following are the weekend’s highlighted issues and events.
Vehicle Burglary
March 17 at 4:33 p.m., the victim of a vehicle burglary came to the police department lobby to file a report. The victim parked her vehicle in a parking lot in the 800 block of West Colorado. When she returned, her purse was missing from inside the vehicle. The victim believes she locked the vehicle. There were no signs of forced entry. The investigation is continuing.
Vehicle Burglary
March 17 at 5:18 p.m., a vehicle burglary was reported in the 500 block of S. Shamrock. The front passenger-side window was smashed and a handbag, tablet and other miscellaneous items were taken from inside the vehicle. The investigation is continuing.
Public Intoxication – Suspect Arrested
March 18 at 12:17 a.m., a resident in the 300 block of West Lemon called police to report a male subject on his lawn. Officers arrived and located a male subject wandering around in the area that matched the description. The subject was intoxicated and did not know where he was. The officers determined the subject was too intoxicated to care for himself. He was arrested and held for sobering.
Public Intoxication – Suspect Arrested
March 18 at 12:50 a.m., an officer on patrol saw a male subject stumbling down the street. He stopped the subject to check on his welfare and determined he was extremely intoxicated and unable to care for himself. The subject was arrested and held for sobering.
Driving Under the Influence – Suspect Arrested
March 18 at 1:50 a.m., an officer stopped a vehicle for a vehicle code violation, and while speaking with the driver, the officer could smell alcohol. After field sobriety tests were performed, it was determined the subject was intoxicated. The driver was arrested for driving under the influence.
Possession of Drug Paraphernalia – Suspect Arrested
March 18 at 4:41 p.m., officers responded to a residence in the 200 block of Norumbega regarding the report of drug activity at the location. The resident gave the officers consent to search the location and officers found drug paraphernalia. A female subject admitted the items were hers and she was arrested for possession of drug paraphernalia.
Receiving Stolen Property – Suspect Arrested
March 19 at 12:56 a.m., officers detained a subject walking through a park in the 700 block of E. Lemon after it was closed. The subject was walking with a bike that had an address and a phone number on it. The officers phoned and spoke to the owner of the bike, who reported his bike had been stolen. The subject was arrested for receiving stolen property and taken into custody.
Possession of Drug Paraphernalia/Weapons Offenses – Five Suspects Arrested
March 19 at 10:48 a.m., officers were dispatched to a hotel in the 700 block of W. Huntington regarding foot traffic in and out of one of the rooms. Hotel employees suspected possible prostitution. The subjects had also set off the fire alarm in the room earlier in the week and marijuana was smelled coming from the room. When officers arrived, they contacted two males and one female in the room. The female and one of the male subjects are known gang members. The other male is a known drug user and burglar from prior police contacts in Monrovia. The subject who rented the room was not present. Drug paraphernalia and an empty Beretta handgun case were located in the room. The three subjects in the room were arrested for possession of drug paraphernalia.
As one of the officers was leaving the hotel, he saw another known local drug user pumping gas into a vehicle at a gas station across the street. There was a male and female seated in the vehicle. A computer check of the license plate revealed the vehicle was registered to the subject who rented the room at the hotel. Officers detained all three subjects. A search of the vehicle revealed a loaded Beretta handgun, a large amount of methamphetamine, heroin and cash. A total of 5 suspects were arrested for drug and weapon related charges in this incident.
Public Intoxication – Suspect Arrested
March 19 at 7:15 p.m., officers responded to a welfare check of a female subject in the area of Myrtle and Chestnut. Officers located the female subject matching the reported description and determined she had been drinking and was not capable of taking care of herself. She was arrested for public intoxication and held for sobering.
Vandalism
March 20 at 10:25 a.m., the vice principal at the high school in the 800 block of Colorado called police to report vandalism of school property. Someone had spray painted gang related graffiti on several buildings. The vandalism occurred sometime over the weekend. The investigation is continuing.
Warrant – Suspect Arrested
March 20 at 5:12 p.m., an officer saw a male subject he recognized walking down the sidewalk in the 600 block of S. Mountain. The officer knew the subject had a warrant for his arrest. A computer check confirmed the warrant for his arrest with a bail set at $100,000 for driving without a license. The subject was arrested for the warrant.
New Art Exhibit in Monrovia | Old Homes Tour on May 1
~ A "Works on Paper" exhibit coming to Saga Fine Arts (south side of Lime across from the Library - http://sagafineart.com/ ) on March 22-April 22.
~ Monrovia Historic Preservation Group will again host its annual home tour, but this year on Sunday, May 1, 10 a.m. until 4 p.m., not on Mothers' Day. This is a docent-led tour of five homes and two museums. The selection of homes includes Spanish Colonial Revival, Craftsman, and English Tudor Cottage. Details: http://www.mohpg.org/
- Brad Haugaard
Telescope Night Tonight in Old Town Monrovia
The Old Town Sidewalk Astronomers will be set up this evening at the corner of Myrtle and Lime from around 7-9 p.m. to give people a good look at the moon and Jupiter. One member plans to bring a large 7-inch refractor telescope.
- Brad Haugaard
- Brad Haugaard
Alize Neal - Youth Of The Year
Monrovia High Senior Alize Neal, 17, has been chosen as the Foothill Boys and Girls Club's Youth of the Year. http://goo.gl/eDnWPp
- Brad Haugaard
- Brad Haugaard
Raising $26,000 for Children's Cancer Research
The St. Baldrick's head-shearing event in Monrovia on St. Patrick's day raised more than $26,000 for children's cancer research. http://goo.gl/6VJ6w9
- Brad Haugaard
- Brad Haugaard
Dinner at Cafe Lori
Dinner at Cafe Lori, "healthy Mediterranean food" on the south side of Lime just east of Myrtle, built into the side of the Krikorian Theater. I got the beef shawarma ($10.50) and a Diet Coke ($1.25). There is not much emphasis on aesthetics here but I was very pleased with the food.
- Brad Haugaard
Police Seek Missing Monrovia Teen
Monrovia Police are looking for 16-year-old Briana Ysenia Valenzuela, who left her guardian's home in a 2011 silver Buick Regal 4-door, license 6NYL096. She is Hispanic with long black hair, brown eyes, 5'4" and about 175 lbs. suffers from mental illness and takes medication. Contact watch commander at (626) 256-8031 or (626)256-8032 with information.
Sign for New Monrovia Starbucks at Foothill and Madison
- Brad Haugaard
Monrovia Police: Porn on Church Walls; Runaway Boy; Hit and Run; Etc.
[Monrovia Police activities from the Police Department's Neighborhood Watch Report for March 14-16. - Brad Haugaard]
During the last seven-day period, the Police Department handled 407 service events, resulting in 92 investigations.
Hit and Run Traffic Collision/Driving Under the Influence – Suspect Arrested
March 14 at 10:28 p.m., officers were dispatched to the report of a hit and run traffic collision that occurred at Mountain and Huntington. While responding to the call, an officer saw a vehicle traveling west in the 700 block of E. Huntington with damage to the front of their vehicle and a flat tire. A traffic stop was conducted. After investigation, the driver was determined to be intoxicated. The victim of the hit and run signed a refusal to prosecute. The driver was arrested for driving under the influence.
Suspicious Item/World War II Military Ordinance
March 15 at 2:20 p.m., a subject came into the station requesting an officer to look at an item in the trunk of his vehicle, which was parked in front of the station. The subject was cleaning out his father's garage on Magnolia and found some type of military ordinance. Upon viewing the item, officers evacuated the area, blocked off the street and notified the Los Angeles Sheriff’s Bomb Unit for safety purposes. The Bomb Unit responded and x-rayed the device. They determined the item was a military illumination device from World War II, and that it still had a possible bursting hazard. The Bomb Unit was able to remove the device safely and intended to detonate it in an open field.
Vandalism
March 16 at 7:32 p.m., a vandalism incident was reported at a church in the 500 block of West Lemon. A classroom inside the church building had been vandalized. The room had been ransacked and a fire extinguisher was discharged in the room. There was also pornography on the walls. This is the third incident of this kind at the location. The investigation is continuing.
Grand Theft Auto/At-Risk Missing Juvenile
March 16 at 9:20 p.m., a resident reported her juvenile grandaughter stole her car and was missing from the 100 block of North Myrtle. The missing juvenile has a long history of running away and taking her grandmother’s vehicle. The missing person/suspect was entered into the missing persons system and the vehicle was entered into the stolen vehicle system. The investigation is continuing.
Runaway Juvenile
March 16 at 11:27 p.m., the mother of a 14-year-old male subject called police to report her son had run away from home. An officer responded to the location and was told by the mother that her son has been cutting classes. She was having an argument with him and left him momentarily to put her younger son to bed. When she returned, she found he had left the apartment. He took some clothing and belongings with him. Officers checked the area, but were not able to locate him. The juvenile was entered into the missing persons system, and the investigation is continuing.
Warrant/Possession of Drug Paraphernalia – Suspect Arrested
March 17 at 12:36 a.m., officers reponded to a complaint of subjects causing a disturbance at the location by talking loudly. The officers contacted two subjects, one of which had an outstanding warrant for her arrest. During a search of the subject incident to arrest, a glass pipe used for smoking methamphetamine was found on her person. She was arrested and taken into custody.
Warrants/Unlicensed Driver – Suspects Arrested
March 17 at 4:00 a.m., officers conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle for vehicle code violations. Two of the occupants had outstanding warrants for their arrest and the driver was found to be unlicensed. The two occupants with warrants were arrested and taken into custody. The driver was issued a citation.
During the last seven-day period, the Police Department handled 407 service events, resulting in 92 investigations.
Hit and Run Traffic Collision/Driving Under the Influence – Suspect Arrested
March 14 at 10:28 p.m., officers were dispatched to the report of a hit and run traffic collision that occurred at Mountain and Huntington. While responding to the call, an officer saw a vehicle traveling west in the 700 block of E. Huntington with damage to the front of their vehicle and a flat tire. A traffic stop was conducted. After investigation, the driver was determined to be intoxicated. The victim of the hit and run signed a refusal to prosecute. The driver was arrested for driving under the influence.
Suspicious Item/World War II Military Ordinance
March 15 at 2:20 p.m., a subject came into the station requesting an officer to look at an item in the trunk of his vehicle, which was parked in front of the station. The subject was cleaning out his father's garage on Magnolia and found some type of military ordinance. Upon viewing the item, officers evacuated the area, blocked off the street and notified the Los Angeles Sheriff’s Bomb Unit for safety purposes. The Bomb Unit responded and x-rayed the device. They determined the item was a military illumination device from World War II, and that it still had a possible bursting hazard. The Bomb Unit was able to remove the device safely and intended to detonate it in an open field.
Vandalism
March 16 at 7:32 p.m., a vandalism incident was reported at a church in the 500 block of West Lemon. A classroom inside the church building had been vandalized. The room had been ransacked and a fire extinguisher was discharged in the room. There was also pornography on the walls. This is the third incident of this kind at the location. The investigation is continuing.
Grand Theft Auto/At-Risk Missing Juvenile
March 16 at 9:20 p.m., a resident reported her juvenile grandaughter stole her car and was missing from the 100 block of North Myrtle. The missing juvenile has a long history of running away and taking her grandmother’s vehicle. The missing person/suspect was entered into the missing persons system and the vehicle was entered into the stolen vehicle system. The investigation is continuing.
Runaway Juvenile
March 16 at 11:27 p.m., the mother of a 14-year-old male subject called police to report her son had run away from home. An officer responded to the location and was told by the mother that her son has been cutting classes. She was having an argument with him and left him momentarily to put her younger son to bed. When she returned, she found he had left the apartment. He took some clothing and belongings with him. Officers checked the area, but were not able to locate him. The juvenile was entered into the missing persons system, and the investigation is continuing.
Warrant/Possession of Drug Paraphernalia – Suspect Arrested
March 17 at 12:36 a.m., officers reponded to a complaint of subjects causing a disturbance at the location by talking loudly. The officers contacted two subjects, one of which had an outstanding warrant for her arrest. During a search of the subject incident to arrest, a glass pipe used for smoking methamphetamine was found on her person. She was arrested and taken into custody.
Warrants/Unlicensed Driver – Suspects Arrested
March 17 at 4:00 a.m., officers conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle for vehicle code violations. Two of the occupants had outstanding warrants for their arrest and the driver was found to be unlicensed. The two occupants with warrants were arrested and taken into custody. The driver was issued a citation.
Man Finds WWII Era Flare, Monrovia Police Evacuate Part of Station
A man who found a World War II era flare turned it in to the Monrovia Police Department Tuesday, which evacuated part of the building and called in the Sheriff's Department bomb squad. http://goo.gl/d5tjSS
Comment: Reminds me of when I was a kid. After a rain a friend and I found a cannon shell (maybe 105 mm) in a wash in the Eaton Canyon area of East Pasadena. We happily carried it home, where it sat in his parent's garage until his mother got nervous and called the cops, who wouldn't go near the thing and called the bomb squad. So... we were pretty dumb. I'd recommend just calling the cops and not even touching anything like that that you might find. I think old explosives can be rather unstable.
- Brad Haugaard
Comment: Reminds me of when I was a kid. After a rain a friend and I found a cannon shell (maybe 105 mm) in a wash in the Eaton Canyon area of East Pasadena. We happily carried it home, where it sat in his parent's garage until his mother got nervous and called the cops, who wouldn't go near the thing and called the bomb squad. So... we were pretty dumb. I'd recommend just calling the cops and not even touching anything like that that you might find. I think old explosives can be rather unstable.
- Brad Haugaard
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